6 Actions You Can Take Today to Prepare for Your Promotion Tomorrow

Being ready isn’t enough; you have to be prepared for a promotion or any other significant change.

Pat Riley

I talk to young engineers and professionals all the time. They want to know my story, and they want to know what they need to do to get to the next level. It’s important for everyone to have a plan and goals for their career. For many, this means they are looking for the next promotion.

What do I have to do to get promoted?

It’s a fair question everyone must ask themselves, their co-workers, and their management, if they want to achieve their career ambitions. Over my 20+ year career, I have moved from an engineer to a project manager to an operations manager. Each step on the journey has required patience, persistence, and plenty of planned actions.

Today, I will help you identify six actions you should be taking today if you want to move closer to the promotion you desire.

6 Actions You Can Take Today to Prepare for Your Promotion Tomorrow

Talk to a person who is already in the position you want to be in next. If you want to become a salesperson, talk to other salespeople. Go out to lunch with them. Grab a cup of coffee with them. Pick their brains, and find out what they like and don’t like about their positions. These conversations will help you understand the realities of the position you are pursuing.

Talk to your boss about the position you want to be in next. Communicating your career aspirations with your boss is a good idea if you want support moving along in your career. Your boss has the opportunity to be your biggest advocate and career counselor, but this won’t happen if you don’t talk to him about your career goals.

Look in the mirror and learn about yourself. Take time to do a self-assessment. I’d recommend looking into the DISC profile, the MBTI profile, and StrengthsFinders 2.0. These “tests” will reveal key information you need to understand your strengths and weaknesses. These kinds of assessments will also reveal more about you and what kinds of positions are right for you.

Get the training you need for the next position. What training will best prepare you for the promotion you desire? Some people say that an MBA isn’t worth very much anymore, but my MBA was a major part of preparing me to move from a project manager to an operations manager. Seeking out training helps you learn, and it also demonstrates to your managers a commitment on your part to grow.

Work hard in your current position. Don’t expect your promotion to be handed to you. If you don’t work hard in your current position, your managers won’t believe you are capable of working hard at the next position. If you want a promotion tomorrow, you better work hard today.

Pray. Don’t underestimate the power and importance of prayer in your career journey. Prayer isn’t a magic wand to get you to the corner office. Instead, prayer provides an opportunity for you to hear from God on your direction. Prayers may seem passive, but I believe it’s active.

When was the last time you received a promotion? What steps did you take to get the promotion? What steps are you taking now to prepare for your next promotion?